HIGHLAND – A 28-year-old man, in custody for alleged property damage, died early Wednesday after deputies used force to detain him.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials announced that Joseph Slater of Highland died at 1:17 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Deputies reportedly took Slater into custody on the 27700 block of Base Line Street.

According to reports released on Thursday, deputies were investigating a report that Slater was damaging property at a gas station. Additional reports stated he was acting strange.

When a deputy detained him, “Slater became uncooperative and refused to sit inside (the back seat of the patrol car),” according to reports. Slater continued to resist and push the deputy, even after pepper spray was used against him. Reports stated that Slater was “partially inside the squad car before he escaped.”

When the deputy tackled Slater, “force was used to overcome his resistance” said the Sheriff’s Dept. release, which did not specify if the suspect had been handcuffed.

Once inside the back seat of the squad car, “Slater experienced a significant medical emergency.” The statement did not elaborate. More deputies, along with paramedics arrived at the gas station. Life-saving measures were taken at the scene and Slater was taken to St. Bernardine Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead.

Neighboring Riverside County will conduct the autopsy on Slater, a typical condition for in-custody deaths and deputy-involved shootings. Sheriff’s Department detectives are investigating.

Less than a week earlier, a man who was taken into custody after a lengthy chase by car and horseback was also kicked and punched – an incident that was recorded. Ten deputies were placed on paid leave while internal and criminal investigations by both the Sheriff’s Dept. and the FBI are taking place.

Read More:

CrimeVoice: Suspect Arrested by Force After Fleeing by Car, Horse

Ventura County – There are many of us who occasionally need to be reminded of the adage “It’s not what happens to us, but how we react to what happens.” When we over-react to the minor hassles of daily life, things seem to have a way of going from bad to worse.

Case in point: 24-year old Daniel Diaz seems to have set his good judgment aside in the early morning hours just after midnight on April 15th after he was given a routine traffic citation following his failure to bring his car to a complete halt at a four-way stop in the city of Ojai. While he was found by the citing Ventura County Sheriff’s Department deputy to not have a valid driver’s license, updated vehicle registration, or hard-copy proof of liability insurance and was duly cited for those infractions, none of that would have earned anything more than a ticket that could have been cleared up with the payment of a fine. Perhaps some peeved regret for having run that stop sign was in order, but who among us has not experienced that frustration?

According to VCSD spokesman Sgt. Kevin Donoghue, however, Diaz was apparently far more than merely irritated and sought his own form of violent retribution. It was just minutes later that the Ojai Sheriff’s Station received a 911 Emergency call alerting authorities to a citizen witnessing “a male subject throw large rocks at the police station,” and who had been observed near a vehicle matching the description of the one Diaz had been driving when cited.

The first deputy on scene spotted that vehicle at the side of a nearby road, locked with the engine running. Additional deputies arriving to investigate quickly realized that a number of police vehicles in the police station parking lot had “significant damage.” Diaz himself was soon located in the parking area of a nearby market, but when he spotted the uniformed deputy coming his way, he took off on foot.

As these things go, Diaz was no match for the cop’s athleticism, and was quickly subdued and taken into custody. Subsequent investigation revealed “about $4000 in damage” to multiple vehicles at the police station, earning Diaz a trip to Ventura County Jail where he was booked on charges of felony vandalism, with his bail set at $10,000.

Sometimes it just pays to sign the ticket and say “Have nice evening, Officer.”

Photo: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking

Read More:

KCOY: Man vandalizes police department

Ventura County – Maybe because it was the final day to pay income taxes that Ricardo Celio, 29, his brother Junior Celio, 32, and Juan DeLeon, 27—all hailing from Los Angeles—were motivated to travel to Camarillo to perpetrate a burglary or two at a senior housing community on April 15th. Whatever their motivation, they clearly didn’t anticipate the ability of the area’s senior citizens to prevent crime.

When Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Camarillo station deputies received a dispatch pursuant to a 911 Emergency call alerting them to a possible felony in the making at Camarillo’s Leisure Village, they rolled up to the reported location and spotted a vehicle with a man behind the wheel and the engine running.

Undoubtedly more than merely “curious”, the deputies made contact with the driver, whereupon they spotted a pair of men departing the reported residence with considerable alacrity via a rear exit. According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Pete O’Sullivan, “deputies chased the subjects” into a nearby retirement housing Leisure Village complex but “temporarily lost sight of them.”

Ever resourceful, the deputies quickly cordoned the area and summoned an Air Support helicopter unit to conduct an aerial search. Within minutes of the intensified effort, “deputies located one of the suspects and took him into custody without incident.” Shortly thereafter, a Leisure Village resident spotted someone hiding under his car and promptly reported the suspect to the complex security staff, which led to his prompt apprehension.

Ricard Celio, Junior Celio, and Juan DeLeon were all transported to Ventura County Jail, where they were booked on charges of first-degree residential burglary, with no bail amount reported.

Photos: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking

MILPIAS – With most arrests in Milpitas dealing with drunk driving or petty theft at the Great Mall, a bomb threat being called into a school is an out of the ordinary assignment for officers and investigators. Following a day-long investigation, the Milpitas Police Department was able to announce the arrest of a 16-year-old suspect who was believed to be responsible for calling in a bomb threat to his High School.

According to Milpitas Sergeant Young, “On April 9, 2015 at approximately 8:17 a.m., Milpitas Police Officers responded to a bomb threat at Milpitas High School, located at 1285 Escuela Parkway.” Milpitas Police, along with bomb and explosives specialists, arrived at the scene after an unidentified male had called Milpitas High and left a message saying there was a bomb on campus, and to evacuate the school before it detonates.

Sergeant Young said, “Approximately 3200 students and staff were evacuated from MHS.” Milpitas Police Officers, the San Jose Bomb Squad, and Santa Clara County Bomb Squad, including their certified bomb detection K- 9’s, conducted a thorough search of the campus and did not locate any suspicious devices.

With all bomb threats, a standard has been set that all students and staff should exit the building to avoid any possibility that a bomb may have been left on campus. The students and staff were released at 10:00 a.m. and were not expected to return due to the serious nature of the incident.

The Milpitas PD Special Investigations Unit developed information which led to the arrest of a sixteen year-old Milpitas High School student, who was not identified as he is a minor.

Cachius Lamiere Brown

Milpitas Police also announced the arrest of 18-year-old San Jose resident Cachius Lamiere Brown. According to Milpitas Police Sergeant Morales, “On April 14, 2015 at about 1:35 pm, a Milpitas Police Officer responded to Clark’s Bostonian Shoes, 550 Great Mall Drive, on a report of employees who chased away a male suspect from the employee area of the store.” The employee found that the suspect had stolen several credit cards and cash from purses belonging to employees.

A search of the area for the suspect ended with him still inside the Great Mall of the Bay Area. Following up during the course of the investigation, a responding Milpitas officer determined the suspect was responsible for an additional 11 counts of burglary from several other businesses located within the Great Mall. Records show that the burglaries occurred during business hours between March 4 and April 14. Morales said, “In addition to the burglaries, the suspect also fraudulently used two stolen credit cards belonging to two victims.”

Police were able to identify Brown as the person responsible for the thefts. He was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for 12 counts of burglary and 2 counts of credit card fraud, and is awaiting his next hearing in the San Jose Hall of Justice.

Anyone with any information regarding this case or other similar incidents is encouraged to call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400 or the law enforcement jurisdiction where the incident occurred. Information can be given anonymously by calling (408) 586-2500 or via the Milpitas Police Department website.

Police Found Over 1,232 Grams Of Processed Hash Oil

A call to this home led police to discover the hash oil lab inside.

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz Police Department has arrested two individuals for having a significant hash oil lab inside their residence on Linden Street in Santa Cruz.  Police arrested 36-year-old Christopher Kite and 30-year-old Sarah Christian Theden on charges of manufacturing marijuana/hash for sale, destroying evidence, conspiracy, and child endangerment. Kite was also charged with assault and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant – domestic violence.

On Monday, April 13, the Santa Cruz Police Department was called to a house on the 200 block of Linden Street on a report of domestic violence.  During their investigation on what led to the domestic violence incident, officers found the makings of a hash oil lab in one of the rooms.

Detectives were able to get a search warrant for the residence and uncovered a significant hash oil lab.  The lab was apparently used for manufacturing thousands of dollars worth of hash oil, a derivative of marijuana, also called “Honey Oil”. It is commonly smoked or vaporized and inhaled for stronger effects than normal marijuana.

Detectives found a full hash oil manufacturing lab in the home.

Detectives seized approximately 1,232 grams of processed hash oil, which has an estimated street value of up to $62,000.  They also found approximately 246 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $123,000, along with $7,000 in cash.

Both Kite and Theden were arrested on multiple charges that they shared responsibility for the lab. They were also charged with child cruelty or endangerment, though police did not specify the details of the children who may have been present or living there.

Hash oil labs are extremely dangerous, volatile and can be very explosive.  Because of extremely flammable butane gas the danger of explosion is extremely high, not only for the residents but also the nearby homes and people.

TAFT — Two men are finally in custody after evading arrest and leading sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed pursuit through the City of Taft last Wednesday.

Preston McAvinue, 21, and 29-year-old Shaun Cowan were both booked into the Taft City Jail for conspiracy, evading and resisting or delaying a peace officer. McAvinue was also booked for assault with a deadly weapon.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the two were arrested on Wednesday, April 15 in connection with an investigation into an assault with a deadly weapon that occurred in the 100 block of Naylor Avenue in south Taft on April 12.

Deputies said that McAvinue had been involved in a verbal confrontation with his girlfriend and her 51-year old father that night, before he allegedly threw a brick, causing the father to fall, striking his head and rendering him unconscious. “The suspect then fled the scene, before deputies arrived,” said KCSO Public Information Officer Ray Pruitt.

Shaun Cowan

Two days later, the sheriff’s department received anonymous information that McAvinue and another male, later identified as Cowan, were parked in a vehicle at the Fastlane Store on Harrison Street in Taft.

“When deputies arrived, they located the vehicle, driven by Cowan, that took off as they approached,” Pruitt said. “A pursuit ensued, which ended a short time later with the driver of the vehicle escaping into the hills east of the city.”

Cowan and McAvinue were eventually captured a short time later after being found hiding in some bushes in nearby Valley Acres.

Photos: Facebook

LOS ANGELES — Constance Gail Fortune (61) has been arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court, charged with three felony counts of grand theft and one of financial elder abuse. She stood accused of scamming several members of the First AME Church out of more than $100,000 total.

Fortune, a licensed agent at the time of the alleged transgressions, sold auto and life insurance to homeowners, but never actually followed through on purchasing their policies — instead pocketing their premiums and leaving them with no coverage. She is also alleged to have forged insurance documents on official insurance company letterhead to lend further credence to the ruse during her time as an employee of the First AME Church.

She was finally arrested on April 8 and arraigned on April 10. Her court date is set for May 4 and she is to remain in custody until that time.

Elsewhere in Los Angeles, Sung Hyun Kim (57) and her sister Caroline Choi (59), both CEOs of sewing companies subcontracted by True Religion Brand Jeans, were arrested along with their CPA Jae Kim (71). They stand accused of 18 felony counts of workers’ comp insurance fraud totaling more than $11 million. The three are alleged to have conspired to underreport $78.5 million in payroll to multiple insurers.

Their system for carrying out the plan included fabricating payroll records provided to insurance carrier auditors. State Fund notified the Department of Insurance after they discovered payroll reports submitted by the two companies showed considerably less total payroll than similar reports received by the California Employment Development Department. Evidence also emerged that employees were paid under the table via a separate, undisclosed banking account.

If convicted, Sung Hyun Kim faces 28 years in prison, Choi 15 years, and Jae Kim 22 years.

In San Diego, 26-year-old Coltin Barody was arrested by the San Diego Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force after allegedly conspiring to scam Progressive Insurance out of $13,000. He is suspected to have coached his 20-year-old nephew, Jacob Holloway, on how to submit a fraudulent claim after Holloway’s motorcycle was stolen from his apartment complex. Since Holloway had only carried liability insurance on the motorcycle, he had no legal claim and would be responsible for the remainder of the loan he’d taken out.

Further investigation revealed text messages showing that the vehicle had been stolen prior to Holloway increasing the coverage and filing a claim, and also implicated his wife — 21-year-old Melinda Minshall — as an accomplice.

Barody has been charged with insurance fraud and faces up to five years in prison. Holloway and Minshall are being implicated on the same charges and have been issued notices to appear in court.

This article and the information within is based on the official press release by the California Department of Insurance.

San Francisco – In the early morning hours of April 16^th, officers responded to the area of 19^th and San Bruno where two suspects were said to be breaking into a parked vehicle.

According to the information released by the department, officers arrived in the area and found the burglarized vehicle. Then, in the area of 20^th and Vermont Streets near McKinley Square and the Potrero Hill Community Garden, officers located two suspects matching the suspects’ description. They were just a block from the scene of the burglary. Upon seeing officers approach, the two men began to toss items from their possession. Officers detained the suspects while the discarded items, an owner’s manual and registration for the burglarized car, were recovered.

A records check revealed that both suspects were on active probation.  29-year-old Gabriel Silva of San Francisco and 32-year-old Jorge Ponce, listed as a transient according to police, were also in possession of various tools police recognize as those used to commit burglary. They were booked on auto burglary, possession of burglary tools, conspiracy and probation violations. Silva was also charged with possession of metal knuckles, an illegal weapon.

According to available records, Silva had been arrested just three weeks prior, on March 27, for stealing a vehicle, possession of burglar’s tools, and driving with a suspended license. And just another month prior, on February 28, he was arrested for another vehicle theft, and charged with conspiracy, using a master key, and hit-and-run with property damage. Ponce was arrested on April 6 for burglary, possession of burglar’s tools, using a stolen ATM card and personal identification, and possession of marijuana.

Suspect Was Carrying a Firearm

SALINAS—Deputies with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office arrested a convicted felon and noted gang member 27-year-old transient Rodolfo Villa after he was spotted loitering in the area of West Laurel drive.

Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies had initially responded to the area of Post Drive and Davis Road on a suspicious circumstances call. It seems that someone noticed a male that matched the description of a wanted suspect loitering in the area.

The Deputies canvassed the area in an extensive search. One deputy spotted a man that that matched the description walking along the ramp to southbound Highway 101 at Laurel Drive.

A Ruger MKII, similar to this one, was dropped during the chase.

After seeing he was spotted by the deputy, Villa started to run toward the middle of the overpass, but he was inadvertently running towards other responding deputies.  As he ran, he threw what appeared to be a firearm off the overpass, onto the center median of Highway 101. The weapon was identified as a black Ruger MKII .22 caliber handgun, which was recovered.

After tossing the gun, Villa continued to run down Adams Street in an attempt to evade police. He ran through backyards of residences on Adams Street, and then Monroe Street, which backs up to Adams.

Deputies, with the help of the public, took Villa into custody as a passersby pointed him out to the deputies. Villa was on post release community supervision (PRCS) at the time of this incident.  He is a prior convicted felon and is an admitted gang member.  He was transported to Monterey County Jail and booked on multiple felonies, including carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a weapon as a convicted felon, and resisting arrest.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Deputies interviewed over two dozen students when threats of shootings were spilling out at three area high school campuses on Monday. Investigators determined the threats were a hoax. However, another student was arrested for posting a photo of himself with a gun.

Some 27 people, mostly students, were interviewed when Twitter threats of shootings surfaced involving the high school campuses of Etiwanda, Alta Loma and Los Osos High Schools. Warnings began circulating through social media outlets between Sunday and Monday.

Investigators said the tweets came after last week’s investigation of a Lone Hill Middle School student who was targeted in San Dimas, located about 20 miles from Rancho Cucamonga. That Instagram posting turned out to be a non-event, said officials.

The newest threats were considered seriously by both school officials and law enforcement, which placed a deputy at Alta Loma High, in addition to campus security personnel. A law enforcement official confirmed the newest threats were a reaction from last week’s incident when two girls were carrying on a dispute. Both girls were contacted and advised of possible consequences if the posts continued. A sheriff’s office spokesman said that Deputy Miranda Young was dispatched to investigate the social media tweets, which also included Facebook posts. Young interviewed approximately 27 students before she narrowed it down to the two female students, who were not identified due to their age.

An arrest was made at Alta Loma High School

Meanwhile, an Alta Loma High School student, Andrew Riccardi, 18 and presumably a senior, posted a picture of himself with a gun on a Tweet that read “Well mom said I had to go to school better pop the trunk first” according to a report from ABC7 News. He was arrested on campus in front of other students. He admitted to posting the photo, but said the gun was a replica. A search of his home revealed that his father did have guns in safes that were not accessible to Riccardi, but they did find nun-chuck weapons in his room, and two large fixed bade knives in his car, which he had driven to school. Riccardi was charged with threats of violence.

School officials were aware of the posts, especially when a number of students said they would not be attending school on Monday. It is possible Riccardi’s post was in reaction to the other posts and rumors circulating.

Read more:

ABC7: Rancho Cucamonga Student Arrested After Posting Threatening Tweets

CrimeVoice staff contributed to this story

PHELAN – An El Monte man, who tried to flee law enforcement, was arrested when San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials raided a home that contained a large-scale marijuana operation last week.

Nhan Kinh Tang, 58, faces charges of possession of a large amount of marijuana, planting and cultivating marijuana and also for tampering with utility equipment in order to reduce charges for power.

Marijuana Eradication Team members took a report from a citizen about suspicious activities taking place at a rural residence at 2933 Joshua Rd., according to investigators. Over 1,300 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, along with processed marijuana that had been recently harvested, were discovered inside the residence. MET investigators showed up at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 with a warrant, eventually discovering a large-scale marijuana growing operation throughout the entire 2,500-square-foot house.

The property is located along Joshua Road in rural Phelan

Tang attempted to flee the location in his car, but law enforcement took him into custody before he got away without further incident. According to investigators, “the grow operation used advanced lighting systems, air conditioning systems, fans, exhaust blowers and a filter system to control the climate inside the residence.”

During the investigation, it was determined the suspect had bypassed electrical systems, stealing in excess of $400,000 in utilities during a period up to six years. “The grow operation most likely went unnoticed for so long,” according to a release, “because of the rural and secluded location of the residence.” A court appearance has not been set yet for Tang, who was released one day after his arrest, according to records.

MET investigators have uncovered several grow houses in recent months. San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said, “Indoor marijuana grows will not become common in our neighborhoods,” adding the MET will continue to take down these grow houses, “put the operators in jail and seek restitution for the massive theft of utilities.”

Phelan is located about 40 miles from San Bernardino, a city that is near Victorville, Hesperia and close to the Los Angeles County border.

PHOTO: SBCSD

San Francisco – On the morning of Wednesday, April 15^th, a 42-year-old woman was walking towards the bus in the area of San Bruno and Silver Streets, when a male suspect attempted to snatch her purse.

Despite the victim clinging to her belongings and being dragged by force to the ground while holding on, the suspect was finally able to break the strap and flee to an awaiting vehicle, which sped off from the scene.  According to the statement released by police, the vehicle then nearly struck the victim in the roadway.

After obtaining a vehicle description and license plate information from a witness, officers located the getaway car along with three suspects.  After a search, police found the victim’s belongings as well as a BB gun and ammunition.

19-year-old Victor Sosaazarcon and 18-year-old Danielle Canizales, both of San Francisco, were arrested and booked on their respective charges, which included robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy.  The third suspect’s name was not released because of their status as a minor.

RIALTO – A 25-year-old will face murder charges stemming from a shooting that took place in 2004.

Derione Johnson was a teenager when he allegedly shot Shaylen Martin, 23, in August 2004, just outside a Rialto apartment complex in the middle of the day. But the case went cold until Tuesday, April 7, when investigators arrested Johnson at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. According to reports, Johnson was 15 when he shot Martin.

He has since pleaded not guilty and will appear in West Valley Superior Court on Wednesday, April 22. Cold Case Detective Rory Scalf arrested Johnson one day after the birth of his first child, according to reports. Rialto police unleashed its Cold Case division in 2013.

East Jackson Road today, where in 2004 a deadly shooting occurred.

Back on August 3, 2004, police responded to the block of 200 East Jackson Street, in north Rialto near Eisenhower High School, for reports of a fight. They discovered that a gun had been fired during the incident, and Martin had been struck in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the investigation, police did not have enough evidence to make any arrests. Scalf, who joined the Cold Case Division in 2013, identified Johnson as a suspected gang member. Eventually, Johnson was identified as the shooter, said law enforcement officials. The victim Martin had dropped out of school to care for his family, and apparently knew Johnson, “but it doesn’t appear they knew each other well,” said police.

The Cold Case Division, which reopened the Martin case by re-interviewing witnesses and talking to other people, has solved seven crimes since it was formed.

Read More:

The Sun: Man arrested more than a decade after Rialto slaying

San Francisco – A vehicle struck a 34-year-old man when he tried to restrict the driver from access to a storage facility.

The incident started in the morning hours of April 17^th at the ExtraSpace public storage facility on the 1700 block of Egbert Avenue. The victim was entering the facility when the suspect approached and asked to be let in.  According to information released by the department, the victim refused, telling the suspect he would have to wait for the business to open to be let in.

The two separated, the victim going on about his business in the facility. A short time later, he witnessed the suspect rush through the gate behind another vehicle. Not wanting to permit the suspect access, the victim stood in front of the car, attempting to block its way. The suspect yelled for the victim to move out of the way, but when the victim would not move, the suspect proceeded to accelerate, striking the victim and causing him to topple over the hood and onto the ground.

The suspect then fled the scene. The victim was not seriously hurt and quickly called police. While giving his statement to responding officers, he saw the suspect drive by once again. The officers were able to stop the vehicle, apprehend the suspect, and place him under arrest.

66-year-old Robert Macshate of San Francisco on aggravated assault charges. While the victim was thankfully unhurt, the incident occurred within days of another incident, where an Uber driver purposefully struck and injured a cyclist in Fisherman’s Wharf.

Macshate, who lives about four miles from the storage facility, near the City College of San Francisco, has been arrested several times recently, but for non-violent crimes. He was charged with possession of cocaine base for sale, destroying evidence, and driving with a suspended license on July 31, according to San Francisco Police reports. He was arrested on similar charges – possessing cocaine base for sale and drug paraphernalia on January 25, 2014.  On October 12 of 2013 he was also charged with, once again possession of cocaine base for sale, driving on a suspended license, and probation violations.

COACHELLA – Following an investigation, deputies from the Riverside Sheriff’s Department were able to identify, locate and arrest a suspect believed to have committed armed robbery on Saturday.

At close to midnight on Saturday, April 18, police dispatch received a call regarding an armed robbery. The Coachella Police responded to the scene in the 49000 block of Grapefruit Boulevard, Coachella. After locating the victim, officers ascertained that a 44-year-old female from Thermal was approached by the suspect when exiting her vehicle. The man pointed a handgun at the victim, demanding cash. When the victim refused to comply with the demands, the suspect grabbed her cell phone and fled the scene. According to a press release from the Riverside Sheriff’s Department, the victim was not injured during the altercation.

Thermal Station Investigations Bureau responded and assumed the investigation at that time. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male adult, 25 to 30 years, with a medium build wearing black baseball cap, dark sweatshirt with a black bandana covering his face. He was reportedly driving a silver mid-sized vehicle with paper license plates.

The next day, Thermal Station investigators were able to identify a suspect in the case. Investigators pinpointed the location of Hector Pimentel Monroy, 32 of Coachella, who was suspected of committing the armed robbery the previous day.  A search warrant was served in the 52000 block of Calle Camacho, in Coachella. The investigators searched the home and found the phone that had been reported stolen during the crime. At that time Monroy was arrested and later booked into the Riverside County jail in Indio for armed robbery.

San Francisco- On the afternoon of April 19^th, Bayview Station officers responded to a call regarding an altercation at a residence in the 1000 block of Griffith street. The responding officers learned that one of the parties involved had threatened the other with a rifle.

Police searched the residence to and discovered a rifle beneath a couch. A further search also revealed ammunition, a bulletproof vest and several marijuana plants.  According to the information released by the department, the marijuana plants were in various stages of growth. 37-year-old Eron Mills of San Francisco was placed under arrest.

A convicted felon, Mills is prohibited from possessing weapons or body armor.  He was booked on multiple charges, including false imprisonment by violence, assault with a firearm, and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant – domestic violence.  Police did not specify what the original altercation was about.

Records show that Mills has been arrested at least three times since 2011, on charges of DUI, possession and transportation of a controlled substance for sale, driving on a suspended license, and vandalism.

The arrest came one day before officers were gearing up to handle thousands of marijuana enthusiasts, who converged on Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park to celebrate 4/20. That event came off with only one reported arrest, but tons of trash to clean up in the aftermath.

ELK GROVE—The Sacramento County Coroner has identified the man who brandished a gun at an Elk Grove auto dealership earlier this week and then killed himself.

The man, John Connor, 29 from West Sacramento, shot himself after bringing his vehicle to the Maita Chevrolet dealership at 9650 Auto Center Driver on Monday, April 20 at approximately 2:00 p.m. An agent was repossessing the white F-150 truck when O’Connor pulled out his gun and began arguing.

Elk Grove police spokesman Officer Christopher Trim said when officers arrived at the scene, the armed man ran from the front parking lot into the business. Employees and customers were yelling to police that the man had a gun.

Connor ran through the main entrance of the showroom and toward a back elevator. As officers approached, they heard a gunshot and then found Connor around the corner lying on the floor with a gunshot wound, and the handgun about an arm’s length away. He died at the scene.

Trim said Connor had fired no other shots and no one else was injured. Police continue to investigate the incident to try and find the motive.

A man, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Elk Grove Citizen that Connor was upset over a bounced check that he had used to pay for the truck. He also said O’Connor’s wife had left him recently.

BAKERSFIELD —Three Bakersfield men were arrested on Tuesday in connection with a shooting that occurred in a southwest Bakersfield neighborhood, frightening residents and putting a local elementary school on lockdown.

Bryson Blair, 29, 25-year-old Herman Deans and 23-year-old Dominique Deans were all booked on charges of resisting and delaying arrest, along with additional charges that are pending an ongoing investigation.

Herman Deans

According to the Bakersfield Police Department, the incident occurred at around 2 p.m. on April 21, when police responded to a call of shots being fired near Quailwood Elementary School, which was placed on lock-down for a total of nine minutes, shortly after the call was received.

“When officers arrived they were told by witnesses that the shots came from a vehicle,” said Bakersfield PD Public Information Officer Joe Grubbs. “A short time later, a vehicle matching the description given by several witnesses was spotted by a police service technician, parked and occupied by three males, in the parking lot of an apartment complex located at 608 Quailridge Road.”

Officers responded and said they discovered that there were several fresh bullet holes in the car, which was eventually identified as a rental car. It had been rented to a resident of the apartment complex.

Officers made contact with the resident, detaining one suspect outside the apartment, while making repeated requests for the additional suspects to surrender. After no response, officers forced entry into the apartment with the assistance of a police canine. Once inside, officers said they found the two additional suspects, who were immediately taken into custody.

Images from Facebook

CLOVIS – A campus security guard and assistant freshman baseball coach was arrested on charges that he had sex with a student under the age of 16.

Fernando Garcia, 24, was arrested on Tuesday morning at Ashlan and Armstrong Avenues while he was heading to work, police said.

The Clovis Police Department was alerted by officials at Clovis Unified School District on Monday afternoon that Garcia was possibly having a relationship with a female student. Garcia resigned from the district following the allegations.

Investigators seized evidence from Garcia’s home on the 5500 block of East Pontiac Way in east-central Fresno.

Police do not believe that the alleged sexual interactions between Garcia and the student took place on campus. Garcia is being jailed on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, oral copulation with a person under 18 and lewd acts with a juvenile.

TULARE – A former arena football player and high school standout was arrested on Monday for allegedly trying to rob a bank in Tulare.

Police said that 31-year-old Nichiren Flowers went into the Wells Fargo Bank in the 200 block of East Tulare Avenue around 2:50 p.m. Instead of asking for cash, the suspect passed a note to the bank teller demanding that money be transferred into an account, police said.

Officers responded to the bank branch for reports of a robbery in progress. They received information from a bank employee that helped them arrest Flowers without incident. He was taken into custody inside the bank, police said.

There were no injuries reported during the attempted bank robbery and no weapon was recovered, police said.

Flowers was booked into the Tulare County Pre-Trial Facility on suspicion of first-degree robbery, a felony.

Flowers was on the roster of arena football teams as a receiver in the years 2007, 2010-11, and 2014. He is also played football at Tulare High School and the University of Nevada. He is featured on the BodyBuilding.com website in a “Fit Team Member Spotlight.”